PU record holder is new hockey coach
By: Justin Feil
Forty years after graduating, John Cook’s name is still near the top of the Princeton University men’s ice hockey record books.
It could be a good or a bad thing as the 1963 PU graduate, who is still an active player with the Kingston Hockey Club, takes over as head coach of the Princeton Day School girls’ ice hockey team.
"I don’t think having been a good hockey player makes you a good coach. It might hurt," said Cook, who replaces Meghan Hishmeh. "I’d like to be a good player and a good coach."
If Cook is half the coach he was as a player for the Tigers, PDS should have outstanding results.
Cook, who went to PDS’ predecessor, Princeton Country Day, played in the day when Princeton University players weren’t eligible for the varsity team until sophomore year. In his first year at Old Nassau, he won the team’s Hobey Baker Trophy, awarded annually to the freshman who among his classmates, in play, sportsmanship and influence has contributed most to the sport.
He burst into varsity play with a then program third-best 42 points as a sophomore right wing. He added another 41 points as a junior, and recorded 49 points as a senior, a mark that is fourth best to this day. Cook ranks first in career points per game (2.00) and goals in a career (67), tied his father Peter’s record for goals in a game (5), is second all-time for highest points in a game (7) and career assists per game (0.98) and sixth in career assists (65).
As a senior, he was presented the team’s highest award, the Blackwell Trophy, given annually to the varsity player who in play, sportsmanship and influence contributes most to the sport.
"It remains to be seen whether player skills can translate to coach skills," said Cook, who played four years in Milan, Italy, upon college graduation. "One tough thing is having been a player who played at a high level, I have high expectations. The toughest thing is generating realistic expectations.
"What I’ve found is that the girls are hard working and listen so they’re learning. I’ll be able to judge success by progress and we’ve already come pretty far."
Cook was first known to some of the Panther players as a parent. His daughter, Hilary, is a senior defenseman this year. Cook was an assistant with the Princeton Tiger Lilies club team and also an assistant in the pee wee leagues.
"You get a little bit of a head start if you know some of the girls on the team," Cook said. "I’ve been around as a parent watching them. They’re a good group. The older girls help the younger girls, which is nice to see."
At PDS, he’ll begin his first head coaching job, and has assistant coach Sarah Ahlquist, another Princeton University graduate who was goaltender for the women Tigers, to help.
"I’ve never been a head coach before," Cook said, "but it seems like a pretty natural thing to do. I was a player-coach on a Princeton club team. There, I was among my peers so it was a little different. We just needed someone to do it. Now, I’m quite a bit older and I have to call the shots.
"What surprised me is how busy the head coach is. You have to create a practice where everyone is moving and getting something out of it. You have to see everything and pay attention for the full hour and a half. It’s tough, but I like it."
And while Cook had his moments at Princeton as an offensive player, he has to deal with both ends of the ice in detail now as a coach.
"I have a great goaltender, but I’m concerned about the defensemen and how they’re getting the puck out," he said. "It needs to be coordinated. Most good plays start on defense."
Cook and the Panthers face their first test when they host Lansdale Catholic at 6 p.m. Wednesday. He’s hoping that the three weeks of practice as well as a scrimmage against the Nassau Hockey girls team have PDS well prepared.
There are 22 girls on the Panther team. And what is challenging at times is making sure that his variety of talent and experience are all able to get something out of each practice. Cook has tried to keep it simple while focusing first on basics.
"What should be one of the easiest things for me is (teaching) skating stride and how to shoot and how to face off," he said. "I’m really working on skating, shooting and passing. There is some strategy obviously, but all of that should come naturally."
And what should also show through, Cook hopes, is how much ice hockey has meant to him and the thrills it can bring the Panthers.
"My No. 1 goal is I want them to have fun," he said. "It ought to be a joyous experience for them, just as it is for me every time I’m out there. I want them to be competitive too. I want them to improve. I don’t know the other teams, but I suspect we’ll be pretty good. We have some strong girls."
And if they play anything like John Cook did in his heyday, the Panther girls’ ice hockey team will be able to leave its mark as well.